Nepetas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of flowering plants in the mint family, known for their aromatic foliage and vibrant flowers; often associated with attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies; commonly recognized for their effect on cats, leading to playful behaviors and increased activity
2. A group of herbaceous plants in the Lamiaceae family, characterized by their pleasant scent and attractive blooms; frequently used in gardens for ornamental purposes and as a companion plant in pollinator gardens; noted for the stimulating effects they can have on felines, eliciting playful reactions
3. A category of plants within the mint family, valued for both their ornamental traits and the aromatic qualities of their leaves; appreciated in horticulture for their ability to lure beneficial insects; famously known for inducing euphoric responses in cats through scent

Etymology: "Nepetas" is simply the plural of "nepeta," the Latin-derived name for the genus of aromatic flowering plants that includes catmint. The plural form is the one used when speaking of several such plants at once. The singular comes from Latin "nepeta," which Latin writers borrowed from the name of the Etruscan town of Nepet, and the plant name was then used as a botanical term for the genus. The word is a doublet of "nep," an older English name for catmint, meaning the two words descend from the same source but entered English by different routes. "Nep" came into English earlier and survived as a common name, while "nepeta" was adopted later as a learned, scientific term, so both forms now exist side by side.